On Arts Alive today.......Read Alberta Magazines Month.

The Alberta Magazine Publisher's Association celebrates the flourishing industry in October with a pair of events in Edmonton and Calgary, along with sending out a travelling magazine display, and a series of panel discussion dealing with the business of publishing and related topics. According to Statistics Canada, the prairie provinces are experiencing a growth of periodical publications larger than any other region in the country. Most of the magazines have a local connection, that ranges from trades and industries, through sports, cultural and artistic activities, or educational outreach, among other areas. Close to 200 magazines, along with nearly 100 scholarly journals, and other publications, are a part of an estimated contribution of nearly 1000 jobs and close to 100 million dollars added to the economy. Editor Colin McGarrigle of Edmonton's Avenue Magazine (a sister publication to Avenue Calgary, where he was also editor) has worked for many years in all facets of the industry. He spoke with Chris Allen and says that while national and international publications are important, local magazines offer something else.

Listen to the September 30th show
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Read Alberta Magazines Month will be launched at Art Central in Calgary on October 2, beginning at 5pm with some food, wine, performances and people recently featured in Alberta magazines. A similar party will take place on October 16 at Latitude 53 in Edmonton. Free discussions will take place at SAIT and Mount Royal College in Calgary and Grant MacEwan College in Edmonton, and a contest for those who subscribe to magazines this month will offer prizes. For information on all the activities, go to albertamagazines.com.